Winding machine



Nov. 19, 1963 H. s. DALEY ETAL WINDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMay 5, 1961 2y WILLI A INVENTORS HORACE S. DALEY A} T. LEMING RNEY Nov.19, 1963 s. DALEY ETAL 3,111,279

' WINDING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 nun INVENTOR5HORACE S. DALEY BY WILLIAM FLEMING 1.x I 1- ORNEY United States Patent3,111,279 WINDBNG MACHENE Horace S. Daley, Ciifton, and William T.Fleming, Boonton, NJ, assignors to Specialties Development Corporation,Believille, NJL, a corporation of New Eersey Filed May 5, 1961, Ser. No.197,952 3 Claims. (Cl. 242F-2) The present invention relates to windingmachines, and, more particularly, to a machine for winding yarn or thelike on objects having either a generally spherical or oval cylindricalshape.

Heretofore, winding machines have been developed which essentiallycomprise a spindle for slowly rotating a form about an axis thereof, afiyer for wrapping yarn about the form in planes intersecting a pointWithin the axis of rotation of the form, such as the center of a sphere,to lay the yarn in approximate great circles, and counterbalancedmechanism for slowly tilting the form from one position to another todistribute the wind.- ing about the form in a desired pattern. Suchmachines are generally disclosed in United States Patent Numbers2,858,992 and 2,901,190.

While such machines are satisfactory for winding yarn onto hollow formshaving a volumetric capacity up to about 3000 cubic inches to provide areceptacle having a weight of about 60 pounds, an attempt to wind muchlarger and heavier receptacles on such machines results in complicationswhen the spindle carrying the form is tilted due to weight anddimensional factors.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a machinefor Winding yarn onto extremely large forms during the fabrication ofreceptacles or other objects having a wall composed of a resinimpregnated fiber glass winding or the like.

Another object is to provide such a machine which can also be utilizedin principle to wind smaller forms.

Another object is to provide such a machine which has a relatively highproduction rate.

Another object is to provide such a machine which can accurately producea variety of winding patterns.

Another object is to provide such a machine which includes cooperatingapparatus for applying great circle or end-over-end windings and hoopwindings onto a form.

Another object is to provide such a machine for applying yarn coated orimpregnated with a liquid which machine is equipped with means forreceiving and collecting drippings of liquid from the yarn applied ontothe form.

A further object is to provide such a machine which is relativelysimple, practical and economical in construction and is reliable inoperation.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, orwill be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages notreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentof the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings,forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B taken together side by side at the lines 1'1 represent afront elevational view of a winding machine in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of mechanism for operating andpositioning the flyer which Wraps the yarn onto the form.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 2.

3,111,273 Patented Nov. 19, 1963 Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B of thedrawings in detail, there is shown a yarn winding machine whichgenerally comprises a base or foundation 10, drive mechanism 11 on thebase, a substantially vertical spindle 12 mounted for rotation in afixed position on the base for supporting either a spherical form 14a ora cylindrical form 14b shown in broken lines, and a pedestal 15 on thebase on which is supported mechanism 16 for operating a fiyer 17 adaptedto wrap yarn about the form.

The drive mechanism 11 comprises a motor 19 on the pedestal 15, agearbox 20 driven by the motor and having two output shafts 21 and 22, agear 24 on the lower end of the spindle means 12 driven by a gear 25 onthe out-put shaft 26 of a gearbox 27, and a gear 29 on the input shaft30 of the gearbox 27 driven by a gear 31 on the shaft 21.

The spindle means '12 comprises a vertical-shaft 32 journalled forrotation in a support 34 on the base 10 and having the gear 24 at thelower end thereof, a fitting 35 at the upper end of the shaft 32 forremovably securing a spud 36 provided on the form at its lower end, anda dished circular member 37 below the fitting 35 for collecting thedrippings of resin impregnated y-arn applied to the form. The form alsohas a spud 36 at its other end so that the yarn can hug both the upperand lower spud to hold it on the form as the winding is started.Provision is made for positioning the fitting to enable both sphericaland cylindrical forms to have yarn applied thereto by the fiyer 17. Thisis accomplished by vertically adjusting the fitting 35 so that verticalmidpoint of the form is in alignment with the axis of rotation of theflyer.

The fiyer 17 comprises an arm 39 mounted at one end for rotation on themechanism 16 as about to be described, an offset portion 40 at its freeend extending across the axis of rotation of the form when in its upperposition as shown and adapted to cross back and forth over this axis asthe fiyer rotates, and a plurality of yarn guides such as rollers 41 fordirecting the yarn to outer end of the offset portion and onto the form.

The fiyer operating mechanism 16 includes a parallelogram assembly whichgenerally comprises a bar 42 having the fiyer 17 mounted thereon asabout to be described, and a first link 44 and a second link 45 eachhaving its lower end pivotally mounted on shafts 46 and 47,respectively, located at spaced apart fixed points in a plane parallelto the longitudinal axis of the bar 42, and each having its upper endpivotally connected to the bar 42 at points 43 and 48 which are spacedapart the same distance as the axis of rotation of the shafts 46 and 47.

The mechanism 16 further includes a member 53 which is pivotally mountedon a horizontal shaft 69 rotatably supported on the bar 42 at its endfacing the form. The member 53 has a lug or lever portion thereon towhich one end of a third link 55 is pivotally connected. The other endof the link 55 is pivotally connected to an extension 56 at the upperend of the link 44 to provide an arrangement for turning the member 53to effect tilting of the flyer as described hereinafter.

The fiyer is mounted for rotation with an elbow 49 which has a portion38 secured to a shaft 51 This shaft is journalled for rotation in themember 53 and is perpendicularly disposed to the shaft 69. The elbow 49has a second portion 51 to which the fiyer arm 39 is secured by a rod52.

Rotation of the flyer about the form is effected by a sprocket 57 on thedrive shaft 22 connected by a chain 59 to sprocket 6t rotatably mountedon the shaft 47, a second sprocket 61 on the shaft 47 rotated by thesprocket and connected by a chain 62 for rotating a sprocket 64rotatedly mounted on the bar 42 near one end thereof at 48, a sprocket65 rotated by the sprocket 64 and con nected by a chain 66 for rotatinga sprocket 67 rotatably mounted by the shaft 69 on the bar 42 near itsother end for in turn rotating a bevel gear 70 thereon, and a bevel gear71 secured at the end of the elbow portion 38 and in mesh with the gear70.

Mechanism is provided for progressively tilting the flyer 17 to applythe yarn in different planes intersecting the same point within the axisof rotation of the form which mechanism comprises a gear segment 72secured to the link 45 at its end on the shaft 47, a worm 74 in meshwith the gear segment, a rotatably mounted shaft 75 for supporting theworm, and means for effecting rotation of the shaft 75 hereinillustrated as a manually operable wheel 76 although such means could bea mechanism for automatically turning the shaft 75 through apredetermined cycle which determines the pattern of the winding producedon the form.

Such rotation of the shaft turns the link 45 clockwise orcounterclockwise about the shaft 47, and, by reason of the parallelogramarrangement of the bar 42 on the links 44 and 45, the bar is lowered andmoved towards the right or is raised and moved towards the left (asviewed) so that the distance between the point intersected by the planesin which the yarn is applied and the point of meshing connection of thebevel gears 70 and 71 is always the same since the latter point moves inan arc of a circle the center of which is the former point.

As shown in FIG. 2, the link 55 is mounted parallel to the bar 42 by thelug 54 and the extension 56 so that upon raising and lowering of the bar42 the link 55 respectively moves towards the left and the right asviewed. Such movement respectively turns the member 53 and the flyer 17in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. Thus, when the bar 42 isin its upper position as shown in FIG. 1, the link 55 is towards theleft and the flyer is positioned to wrap yarn over the ends of form nearits periphery; and when the bar 42 is in its lower position, the link 55is towards the right and the flyer is positioned to wrap yarn over theends of the form near the spuds 36.

In operation, yarn is drawn by the flyer from a source of supply 77which includes resin impregnated means, through a tension control device79, over a guide roller 80 on the arm 42 at its right hand end asviewed, under, over, under and over four guide rollers 41, respectively,on the flyer 17, and through a guide or eye 81 at the free end of theflyer. The flyer is rotated at a predetermined speed about the form andthe form is rotated by the spindle 32 at a much lower speed, wherebywinding convolutions in planes intersecting the midpoint of the axis ofrotation of the form are distributed circumferentially about the form.As the flyer is tilted, the convolutions are in planes which pass closerto or further away from the spuds 36 of the form, whereby the manner inwhich the flyer is tilted determines the pattern of the winding producedonthe form.

In many instances, an elongate form, such as an oval or cylindrical form1411 is also to be provided with a spiral hoop winding on its side wallswith the hoop windings and the end-over-end windings of the flyer beingalternately applied. In order to enable this to be accomplished, themachine illustrated herein is also equipped with traverse apparatus 82for applying the hoop winding. Such apparatus comprises a vertical post83 on the base 10, a worm or screw shaft 84 rotatably mounted invertical position on the post, a yarn guide 85 driven by the shaft 84and guided by the post 83 for gradual upward and downward movement, anda gear 86 at the lower end of the shaft 84 driven by a gear 87 on anoutput shaft 89 of a gear box 90 having its input connected to the shaft26.

The gear boxes and 90 include conventional clutch means (not shown) fordisconnecting the input and output thereof to selectively connect theflyer 17 and the yarn guide 85 for operation without disconnecting theform rotating spindle means 12 for operation.

The apparatus 82 is so arranged that, when the flyer 17 is at rest inits upper position as shown, the yarn after passing through the eye 81of the flyer passes downwardly and through an eye 91 in the guide 85,whereby the yarn for both types of windings can be conveniently suppliedfrom the same. This arrangement also has the advantage that the flyerneed not be re-threaded for use after hoop windings are applied.

The term yarn is used in its broadest sense herein and is intended toinclude strands, filaments, strips, ribbons, wires, threads and the likeformed of any material which is sufiiciently flexible to enable the sameto be wound in the manner described herein.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the presentinvention provides a relatively simple, practical and efiicient machinefor applying windings on a rotating form including great circle windingson a sphere and endover-end windings and hoop windings on a cylinder.The machine is particularly adapted for winding relatively large forms.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts herein,without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in any limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a winding machine of the class described, the combination of aspindle mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis andadapted to support a form about which a winding is to be applied in acontinuous path about the form in planes all of which intersect a commonpoint within the axis of rotation of the form; and yarn applying meanscomprising a substantially horizontal bar disposed in a vertical planepassing through said vertical axis and having an end facing the form,first and second links each having its lower end pivotally mounted atspaced apart fixed points in a plane parallel to the bar and each havingits upper end pivotally connected to said bar at fixed points spacedapart the same distance as the pivot points at the lower end of saidlinks, a member pivotally mounted on the end of said bar facing the formand having a lug thereon, a flyer mounted for rotation on said member,drive means on said bar and said flyer for effecting rotation of saidflyer, an extension on said first link, a third link parallel to saidbar and pivotally connected between said lug and said extension, andmeans at the lower end of said second link for rocking said second link.

2. In a winding machine according to claim 1, wherein said lastmentioned means include a gear segment secured to said second link forrotary movement about the pivot point of said second link, a rotatablymounted worm in mesh with said gear segment, and means for effectingrotation of said worm.

3. In a winding machine according to claim 1, wherein said drive meansinclude a first gear on said pivotally mounted member, a second gear onsaid flyer in mesh with said first gear, a first sprocket mounted forrotation with said first gear, second and third sprockets mounted forrotation with each other at the pivot point between said second link andsaid bar, a fourth sprocket mounted for rotation at the pivot point ofthe lower end of said second link, a first chain providing a drivingconnection between said first and second sprockets, and a second chainproviding a driving connection between said third and fourth sprockets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,215,361 Miller et al Sept. 17, 1940 2,749,054 Crom June 5, 19562,858,992 Wentz Nov. 4, 1958 2,966,935 Wiltshire Jan. 3, 1961

1. IN A WINDING MACHINE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, THE COMBINATION OF ASPINDLE MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AXIS ANDADAPTED TO SUPPORT A FORM ABOUT WHICH A WINDING IS TO BE APPLIED IN ACONTINUOUS PATH ABOUT THE FORM IN PLANES ALL OF WHICH INTERSECT A COMMONPOINT WITHIN THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE FORM; AND YARN APPLYING MEANSCOMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL BAR DISPOSED IN A VERTICAL PLANEPASSING THROUGH SAID VERTICAL AXIS AND HAVING AN END FACING THE FORM,FIRST AND SECOND LINKS EACH HAVING ITS LOWER END PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ATSPACED APART FIXED POINTS IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO THE BAR AND EACH HAVINGITS UPPER END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BAR AT FIXED POINTS SPACEDAPART THE SAME DISTANCE AS THE PIVOT POINTS AT THE LOWER END OF SAIDLINKS, A MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE END OF SAID BAR FACING THE FORMAND HAVING A LUG THEREON, A FLYER MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ON SAID MEMBER,DRIVE MEANS ON SAID BAR AND SAID FLYER FOR EFFECTING ROTATION OF SAIDFLYER, AN EXTENSION ON SAID FIRST LINK, A THIRD LINK PARALLEL TO SAIDBAR AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID LUG AND SAID EXTENSION, ANDMEANS AT THE LOWER END OF SAID SECOND LINK FOR ROCKING SAID SECOND LINK.